Women's swimwear come in all sorts of designs nowadays, and when it comes to sheer variety it's hard to beat Victoria Secret bathing suits. Though the brand is primarily known for its lingerie offerings, its swimwear line has nevertheless enjoyed immense popularity over the years.

This year promises to be no different. In March 2012, the company launched its summer 2012 swimwear collection with an event at the Thompson Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. There was a mini-fashion show, featuring two Victoria's Secret Angels: Miranda Kerr and Candice Swanepoel, who provided a sneak peek of the swimwear collection by modeling some of the bathing suits.

There are numerous styles featured in the 2012 Victoria Secret bathing suits series. These include bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, halters, and bandeaus. There's also a full complement of cover-ups to complete one's summer beach ensemble. Inspired by Brazil, the collection is unsurprisingly filled with bold colors and bright patterns.

One doesn't necessarily need to have a body like that of a Victoria's Secret Angel in order to look ravishing in a Victoria's Secret bathing suit. There are several swimwear brands from the company, and some items in the collections are designed to help shape the body and provide firm support. The Magicsuit line, for instance, promises "sexy support and shaping," and features halter tankini tops, convertible swim dresses, and retro one-piece swimsuits, among others.

Women with a small bustline would welcome the new Forever Sexy Collection. The available sizes in the line are from 32A to 38DD, and the push-up bras come with removable padding. Styles include tankinis, halters, bikinis, and skirted bottoms. Other swimsuit brands offered by Victoria's Secret are the Beach Sexy, Gorgeous, Very Sexy, Forever Sexy, BioFit Swim Tops, and Bombshell Swim Tops.

Women can opt to shop by bikini top or bikini bottom, but because of the large variety of offerings, it can be overwhelming to choose which top goes with which bottom. To that end, the Victoria's Secret web site launched the Bikini Mixer feature. This helps shoppers mi x and match from among the various styles and designs in order to come up with the mix that's just perfect for them. Aside from the official web site, Victoria Secret bathing suits are also available in various retail stores in the U.S. and Canada.

Shopping for swimwear is a dreaded task for many, and some people think that only young women can carry off sexy swimsuits. Such people are sadly mistaken for there are numerous stylish and beautiful bathing suits for women over 40.

The Internet is filled with pictures of celebrities in their 40s who are seen cavorting in a bathing suit on the beach. However, a woman in her forties doesn't necessarily need to have a body like Jerry Hall's, Jennifer Anniston's or Demi Moore's to rock a swimsuit.

As long as a woman chooses a bathing suit that flatters her figure -- one that downplays the more unattractive parts of her body and draws attention to her assets -- then there's no reason why she can't look stunning on the beach or by the poolside during summer.

An informal survey commissioned by Diet Chef and carried out among 2,000 respondents found that many women wouldn't feel comfortable wearing a bikini while on holiday. However, the same survey revealed that as long as a woman is attractive, slim and healthy, then she can wear whatever she wants even at an advanced age.

Not all women, not even those in their teens, twenties or thirties, can carry off ultra-revealing swimsuits such as monokinis; their physique simply isn't right for it. But many bathing suits for women over 40, especially for those who are carrying a few extra pounds, can be sexy too, in a different way.

Take, for example, the Miraclesuit brand of swimwear. It utilizes the Miratex fabric technology that functions better than spandex in providing support and shaping the body. It not only helps hide the problem areas of plus-size women, it also holds up well in the water and is therefore suitable for swimming exercises and other water activies.

Then there's the swimsuit line called Assets by Sara Blakely. One particular model, a black halter swim dress, has a number of good reviews. Satisfied consumers say it's a very flattering swimsuit, whether the women wearing it has had children or is in her forties.

There are many other types of bathing suits for women over 40. The trick is to find that feels comfortable, and that goes a long way towards making a women look sexy too.

Women who are both plus size and pregnant have no shortage of options when it comes to plus size maternity bathing suits. With the numerous selections available today, choosing one that looks great and feels comfortable is easier than ever.

Health experts say swimming is one of the best exercises a pregnant woman can undertake since it improves circulation, burns calories, and enhances muscle strength and tone, among other things. Plus, the feeling of weightlessness and buoyancy in the water helps her achieve all these benefits without undue strain. As long as there are no problems in the pregnancy and if her doctor approves, a woman should be able to enjoy the health benefits of swimming during the whole duration of her pregnancy.

This is one of the major areas where choosing the right type of swimsuit is important. Plus size maternity bathing suits are designed to provide the support that a pregnant body needs. Several areas of the body aside from the belly will usually increase in size during pregnancy, notably the chest and hips, and accommodating these changes properly with the right type of swimsuit will help ensure both a beautiful appearance and a comfortable experience in and out of the water.

There are many pregnancy bathing suit styles from which to choose. There's the classic one-piece silhouette that's always a popular option. Bikinis and tankinis for plus-size women who are pregnant are also widely available. Swim skirts or swim dresses are also in vogue because of the comfort they provide and the feminine appeal they project. You can find many of these types of swimwear, particularly those made by noted plus-size bathing suit companies Miraclesuit and Gottex, on the web site of Nordstrom.

The stores of retail company Target are also good places for finding beautiful and affordably-priced plus size pregnancy bathing suits, including swim shorts. Target carries swimsuits designed by Liz Lange for both plus size and pregnant women. However, Target only ships to customers within the United States. International customers may want to consider sites like Amazon.com, which offers a range of plus size maternity bathing suits and coverups from various brands.